["OPENSHAW International Airport" , reads the poster stuck…]

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"OPENSHAW International Airport" , reads the poster stuck in a window of the office used by the workers at Laurence Scotts, Manchester. It refers to the use of helicopters last Wednesday, November 4th, to defy pickets on the factory and remove Admiralty motors.

Since Monday the workers had heard rumours that there was to be a massive police presence outside the factory on the Wednesday, but they suspected it would just be another attempt by management to gain access to the site.

On Wednesday morning, 150 police, including some on horseback in full riot gear, surrounded the factory and limited the pickets to six per gate At the time there were only 30 pickets present.

Workers' suspicions were aroused after the police chief superintendent reportedly said that 'this time there were going to be enough police to handle anything.

At 10am two helicopters arrived, and landed in the factory carpark. About ten men in paramilitary gear Even if Kestrel Marine is able to take over the yard and quay, and take on all involved in the sit-in land this is far from certain: the workers have been told 'with a nod and a wink' that Kestrel Marine will take them all on, but the work done by the firm demands a different type of workforce), the workers at Robb Caledon know that such an outcome cannot be described as a victory.

"It's not the solution we desire. All along we wanted the yard to stay nationalised. We don't want to see privatisation in place of redundancies being pushed as the solution to job losses in nationalised industries. And what happens when there isn't a Kestrel Marine around to step in, as is the case in Aberdeen, where the next yard closure is SO.

Although the • takeover by Kestrel Marine is not yet definite, the odds are that the CSEU will soon be able to add another chapter to its 'remarkable record' of failing to fight job losses.

Money is still desparately needed by the sit-in, especially in the aftermath of the CSEU's betrayal. Donations to: Finance Committee, c/o R. Jones, KOD• Dundee. orders payable to "Finance Committee"

LEON TROTSKY

30p from Socialist Organiser, 28 Middle Lane, London N8 jumped out and ran to the dispatch bay, where four Admiralty motors (pumps for® surface vessels) were waiting.

Within an hour the helicopters had gone, but with the assistance of local air traffic controllers the Scotts workers were able to ascertain their flight path. The first port of call was Ringway airport, where the pilots attempted to refuel.

Scotts workers had already contacted the staff at Ringway, and T&G workers refused to refuel the aircraft. Undaunted, thé helicopters flew on to the parent company, Mining Supplies of Doncaster, where the motors were unloaded.

But who were the scabs who loaded the motors? According to Arthur Snipe, owner of Mining Supplies, pared to save in the inpre- were ests of their country.

The following night, the local community held a very well attended meeting at which it was decided to complain at the presence of low-flying helicopters. Residents are particularly incensed because two primary schools lay in the helicopters' path.

Reimposed

A local councillor is also going to complain to the Greater Manchester police committee about the provocative police presence.

Meanwhile, Scotts workers have sent delegations round the country to ensure blacking of the motors. Workers at the Vickers yards in Barrow have already promised to black them.

This week delegations are going rasiane, Rosyth Chatham DAnOUul. and naval bases all over the Finally, any supporters of the Scotts workers in Yorkshire should be aware that there is a possibility of the picket at 'the Mining Supplies base in Doncaster being reimposed. The LSE stewards will decide definitely on this issue on Monday November 9.

This, and any other action taken outside Manchester, would be a great step forward. Hopefully the LSE conference being held in Manchester on November 14th will be an appropriate forum for discussion on the issue of blacking and supp orting action throughout the country.

Messages/money ned Round. George Fryer, croft, Romilly, Cheshire.

Laurence Scotts support conference: Saturday November 14, from 10am at the University of Manchester Instituta of Science & Technology

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most likely to take place?" one of the stewards told

THE TRANSITIONAL PROGRAM FOR REVOLUTION